‘The Drowsy Chaperone’ on stage at Goodspeed in East Haddam

John Scherer portrays Man in Chair in “The Drowsy Chaperone,” on stage at The Goodspeed in East Haddam, Sept. 21 through Nov. 25.

John Scherer portrays Man in Chair in “The Drowsy Chaperone,” on stage at The Goodspeed in East Haddam, Sept. 21 through Nov. 25.

Photo: Diane Sobolewski / Contributed Photo

Photo: Diane Sobolewski / Contributed Photo

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John Scherer portrays Man in Chair in “The Drowsy Chaperone,” on stage at The Goodspeed in East Haddam, Sept. 21 through Nov. 25.

John Scherer portrays Man in Chair in “The Drowsy Chaperone,” on stage at The Goodspeed in East Haddam, Sept. 21 through Nov. 25.

Photo: Diane Sobolewski / Contributed Photo

‘The Drowsy Chaperone’ on stage at Goodspeed in East Haddam

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Hunter Foster is directing “The Drowsy Chaperone” at The Goodspeed in East Haddam. Foster, also an actor, singer and playwright, said he can’t think of a more fitting place to stage a show about “one’s love of musicals.”

This funny, five-time Tony Award winner, with book by Bob Martin and Don McKellar, and music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison, runs Friday, Sept. 21, through Sunday, Nov. 25. Hunter shared more in an email interview, which has been edited for brevity.

Q: It’s been said this show is a musical that celebrates people who love musicals. How so?

A: The Man in Chair who is the central figure in the show, is a huge fan of musicals. I think the show represents how the power of art can be a positive influence in people’s lives. He’s a lonely man who is recently divorced, and has retreated from the world to his lonely apartment. I think everyone can relate to feeling lonely and isolated to some extent. I think the show goes beyond one’s love of musicals to one’s love of any art form that can bring positive elements to your life. Of course, a lot of wonderful observations are made by the Man in Chair about Broadway and the actors that perform in them.

Q: What is the story here?

A: There are two stories going on... One is the story of the Man in Chair who is dealing with the complications of life... He immerses himself into the record of “The Drowsy Chaperone,” which brings joy to his life. The other story is “The Drowsy Chaperone” musical itself. That story is the impending wedding of the Broadway star Janet Van DeGraff to Robert Martin, and her retirement from show business. A Broadway producer (based on Ziegfeld) who doesn't want to lose his star performer, tries to stop the wedding by enlisting a Latin lover to seduce Janet. But the Latin lover accidentally sleeps with Janet’s chaperone...

Q: What makes this show special?

A: I think the important part of this show is to follow the journey of the Man in Chair. I think everyone can relate to him in some way. He’s really the heart of the show... As I told John Scherer, who plays the Man in Chair, “Your only scene partner is the audience.”

Q: When the show opened on Broadway in 2006, its cast included your sister, Sutton Foster. Is there an experience you recall from your childhood that seems to relate to this musical or your work as a director?

A: Well, we didn’t grow up listening to musicals or knowing anything about Broadway. It wasn't until we were older that we even knew what it was, so I can’t say we would burst into song around the house. I wanted to be a pop star or in a rock band so I was trying to sing like George Michael or Van Halen. But there was a moment that I remember from the third grade. For a class project I wrote a play which was four pages front and back. It was about Dracula and I directed and starred in it. We had rehearsals and performed it in front of the class. So I guess before I really knew what it was, I was writing directing and acting!